Bid to boost Norfolk's £3bn tourism economy

A new drive to boost Norfolk's £3 billion per year tourism economy will be considered by cabinet.

Norfolk County Council is considering increasing its investment in Visit East England's tourism work from £10,000 to £110,000 per year, under proposed changes to how tourism is supported nationally.

Councillor Fabian Eagle, cabinet member for economic growth, said: "Tourism is one of Norfolk's largest economic sectors and makes up close to 20 per cent of all jobs in the county - many of them in the most deprived coastal areas.

"We have a wealth of tourist attractions - from Norwich to our market towns, from our coastline to our country houses and museums and from our wildlife reserves to our farm parks.

"We want to boost this further and make Norfolk an all-year, sustainable holiday destination. By investing this money, we will support and influence a powerful partnership, concentrating our collective efforts and making more impact."

The council's proposed £110,000 investment would support Visit East England's move to become a local visitor economy partnership (LVEP) for Norfolk and Suffolk, able to access Government funding that Norfolk cannot currently apply for.

Norfolk is one of the few remaining areas in England without an LVEP, while Cornwall, Yorkshire, London and the Peak District have obtained this status.

Supporting the LVEP would also give the county council an opportunity to link tourism work to its key agendas such as creating jobs, expanding skills and supporting sustainable tourism, as part of its climate strategy.

Cabinet will consider the report when it meets at 10am on Monday 4 September. Watch the meeting, live or afterwards and read the report.